A new enhancement campaign that features solar-powered lighting has been rolled out at 23 Riverside (Calif.) Transit Agency (RTA) bus stops.

As part of the campaign, posts at selected bus stops are crowned with a solar panel that charges a battery that powers the light-emitting diode, or LED, fixtures.

During the non-daylight hours, the posts emit a constant beam of light around the stop, which enables coach operators to better view the stops in otherwise dark areas. Customers can also push a button on the post to temporarily brighten the light around the stop for an enhanced sense of security, and easier reading of route map and schedules.

The capital improvement project was funded by stimulus money linked to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and distributed to RTA by the California Department of Transportation.

The latest upgrades bring to 50 the number of lighted bus stops in areas such as Lake Elsinore, Moreno Valley, Perris, San Jacinto, and the French Valley area east of Temecula, as well as other unincorporated areas of the county.

RTA currently is evaluating other rural bus stops that might benefit from the technology.